Ecclesiastes 1:7 BSB

Ecclesiastes 1:7

All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.

KJV

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

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Commentary

3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

The place - i. e., The spring or river-head. It would seem that the ancient Hebrews regarded the clouds as the immediate feeders of the springs (Pro 8:28, and Psa 104:10, Psa 104:13). Gen 2:6 indicates some acquaintance with the process and result of evaporation.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Is not full - So as to overflow the earth. Whereby also he intimates the emptiness of mens minds, notwithstanding all the abundance of creature comforts.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The connection is: Individual men are continually changing, while the succession of the race continues; just as the sun, wind, and rivers are ever shifting about, while the cycle in which they move is invariable; they return to the point whence they set out.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

16 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
כָּל־	kol-	all	H3605 →
הַנְּחָלִים֙	ha.ne.cha.Lim	the rivers	H5158 →
הֹלְכִ֣ים	ho.le.Khim	[are] going	H1980 →
אֶל־	'el-	to	H413 →
הַיָּ֔ם	hai.Yam	the sea	H3220 →
וְהַיָּ֖ם	ve.hai.Yam	and the sea	H3220 →
אֵינֶ֣נּוּ	'ei.Ne.nu	not it	H369 →
מָלֵ֑א	ma.Le'	[is] full	H4392 →
אֶל־	'el-	to	H413 →
מְק֗וֹם	me.Kom	[the] place	H4725 →
שֶׁ֤הַנְּחָלִים֙	she.ha.ne.cha.lim	<of> where the rivers	H5158 →
הֹֽלְכִ֔ים	ho.le.Khim	[are] going	H1980 →
שָׁ֛ם	sham	there	H8033 →
הֵ֥ם	hem	they	H1992 →
שָׁבִ֖ים	sha.Vim	[are] returning	H7725 →
לָלָֽכֶת׃	la.La.khet	to go	H1980 →